The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-07-08

people around. On quitting the en-.
ploy of Plony, at Epernay. he had 70
ceived good round sum which was
due him for wages. This money he
had carefully boarded. using no more
of it than was absolutely necessary.
Latterly he had carried it wrapped in
the handkerchief which the dog had
snatched from the hand of Marguerite
Tontay, on the evening when Jean hid
from them as they passed along the
pathway leading up to Monsieur Tom
tay's dwelling.
On the evening when he reached
Lussac, Jean sought out in the wood =
hiding place for his money, and for
that purpose selected the hollow in a
fork of a large tree which grew near
the edge of a coppice.
1t so happened that that day Mun-
sieur Jarente was expecting two friends
to breakfast from Chaurigny. and they
were to take the road along the bank
of the river Vienns. He went to the
hill on which the coppice was situated
to see whether there was any signs of
his expected guests, as from that spot
the road was distinctly visible for sew
eral miles.
As he reclined on the bank by the
side of the coppice he heard footsteps.
and, glancing up cautiously, he saw q
roughly-dressed man approach tall
tree near by. and, after looking this
way and that, deposit something in the
fork of the tree, standing upon tiptoe
to do so. Then the man hastily retired
and Monsieur Jarente saw him creep
along the side of the coppice down to-
ward the village.
Monsieur Jarente's curiosity was
excited and he went to the tree to see
what the man had placed there. He
drew forth small bundle which he
discovered contained money. An old
handkerchief, of fine texture, covered
the treasure. Monsieur Jarente united
the knots, and. observing a name in
one corner of the handkerchief, exam
ined it closely.
His amazement was extreme when
he read without difficulty, in neat,
plain hand, the name marguerite
Tontay."
| In an instant he associated the hand
kerchief and the man with the murder
Of Monsieur Tontay. Replacing the
bundle he fastened homeward and in
formed Madame Tontav of what he
had discovered. They talked over the
affair and reached the conclusion that
this must be the tramp who had assas-
sinated Monsieur Tontay. and the hand
kerchief and money had both come
from the person of the murdered man.
Monsieur Jarenete at once commune
Gated to a constable the facts narrated
above. and two officers were placed in
hiding to secure the man when he re-
turned for the bundle.
At three o'clock in the afternoon
Jean crept up toward the coppice, and
had just reached up and secured the
/ treasure when he WAS seized by the
officers. His fright was so great that
he temporarily lost consciousness.
When his faculties were restored he
was told that he was suspected of the
murder of Monsieur Tontay at LIE
Fare several months previous. He
denied the crime, and told what was
considered an incoherent and improb-
able story about his having seen an
other person commit the deed.
After the usual formalities, jean was
transferred to the town of Vitry, in
Cham paigne. There he narrated with
absolute particularly the facts rs
known to the reader, and distinctly
identified Louis Jarente and Marguer-
lite Tontay. The story of the finding
of the handkerchief was confirmed in u
remarkable way. for two of Monsieur
TOntay's domestics testified that Mar
guerite told them the same evening of
her handkerchief having been snatched
from her by her uncle's dog. and of
having failed to recover it.
1t was hard to believe that Louis ia.
rente and Marguerite would engage in
such a dreadful conspiracy against the
life of Monsieur Tontay. and the au-
thorities were loath to act. But Jean
suddenly remembered another fact,
most important one.
AFTER the man had stabbed the
other" said Jean. "he drew the knife
out of the back. Then he came to-
ward that part of the barn where WAS
lying and thrust the knife into the wall
close by the window-port. l heard it
drop down."
jean was taken to the barn and he
pointed out the place into which the
knife was thrust. The easement was
worn away, and there. sure enough,
was a hole in the woodwork. The
half-rotten wood was speedily removed,
and the knife was found. 1t was iden-
titled beyond doubt rs the property
of Louis Jarcnte.
Louis and Marguerite were convicted
of the crime, and Louis was sentenced
to imprisonment for life. Marguerite
was imprisoned for one year. And SO
Monsieur Jarente became the instru-
ment to convict his own son of dread
full crime and to avenge the death of
the man whom he had so cruelty
wronged. -Cincinndti Enquirer.
Sight and Smoking.